El Monte de las Ánimas: A Legend of Soria by Bécquer
El Monte de las Ánimas
1. Location
El Monte de las Ánimas, one of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer’s sixteen legends published in El Contemporáneo, was written on November 7, 1861. Bécquer conceived and wrote the story in Soria, the very setting of the legend. This collection of prose tales represents Bécquer’s most consistent work in terms of genre, structure, theme, and scope. Drawing inspiration from literary traditions, religious literature from the East, fables, and stories of magical events, Bécquer’s legends evoke a sense of wonder and surprise. Many reveal the author’s skill in guiding the reader from reality to fantasy through personal references, historical accounts, or real places. He masterfully blends fantasy with humor, emotion, and irony, demonstrating exceptional technical skill. While the content may not be entirely original, Bécquer’s distinctive style shines through. El Monte de las Ánimas, rooted in local tradition, reflects the author’s connection to Soria. Bécquer’s legends, accessible to a bourgeois readership, reveal his subjective perspective and innermost feelings.
2. Synopsis
Set in Soria on All Souls’ Day, the story begins with a hunting party preparing to return from the Monte de las Ánimas. Beatriz and Alonso, cousins and children of the Counts of Borges and Alcudiel, ride with their parents and servants. Alonso recounts the legend of the Monte de las Ánimas, a place once belonging to the Knights Templar. After the expulsion of the Moors from Soria, the King summoned the Templars to defend the city, creating hostility with the Castilian nobles. A fierce struggle ensued, and the hill was abandoned after the King intervened. The bodies of both Templars and nobles were buried in the monks’ chapel. Legend has it that on the night of All Souls’ Day, the spirits of the dead roam the mountain with wild animals, creating an atmosphere of fear.
3. Characters
Main Characters:
- Alonso: A young, innocent hunter and heir to the estates. He is easily persuaded by his cousin Beatriz, seemingly driven by love. He retrieves Beatriz’s lost blue ribbon from the haunted mountain, ultimately leading to his demise.
- Beatriz: A beautiful but cold woman, daughter of the Counts of Borges. She manipulates Alonso into retrieving her ribbon, fully aware of the dangers. Bécquer portrays her as a symbol of evil, reflecting a misogynistic view common in his time.
Secondary Characters:
- The Counts of Borges and Alcudiel
- Hunters and servants
- Animals (dogs, wolves, deer, snakes)
Symbolic Element:
- The blue ribbon: Represents Beatriz’s manipulation and Alonso’s demise.
4. Themes
- Folklore and the Supernatural: The legend explores the confrontation between the Templars and the nobles of Soria, intertwined with the theme of a manipulative woman.
- Love and Deception: Beatriz’s manipulation of Alonso highlights the destructive nature of deceitful love.
- Tradition and Superstition: The story emphasizes the importance of All Souls’ Day and the fear surrounding the Monte de las Ánimas.
5. Time
- Historical Time: Middle Ages
- Narrative Time: One day, from morning to the following dawn
6. Narrator
The story is told in the third person by an omniscient narrator who recounts the events with a sense of historical context and personal experience.